In the wake of Ruben Amorim’s sacking as Manchester United head coach, a member of his inner circle has broken the silence, offering a dignified farewell that contrasts with the reported turmoil behind the scenes.
Assistant manager Carlos Fernandes, who followed Amorim from Sporting CP to Manchester, publicly thanked the club and hinted at the intense pressures of the role, as the search for a successor begins amid a backdrop of internal friction and player division.
Fernandes, in a social media post, expressed pride in his service and gratitude to players and staff, while offering a pointed reflection on the experience. “In the end, working at a football club of this dimension doesn’t just test your knowledge – it reveals character,” he wrote.
His departure was part of a wider exodus of Amorim’s coaching staff. This public message emerged alongside reports that Amorim himself appeared “hurt” by the dismissal but left the Carrington training ground “laughing and joking” with his team, as if a weight had been lifted.
The dismissal, described by the club as a reluctant decision made because it was “the right time to make a change,” followed a rapid and toxic breakdown in relations between Amorim and the football leadership. Sources indicate a “massive fall-out” with director of football Jason Wilcox last Friday was the final catalyst.
The confrontation reportedly centered on Wilcox’s belief that players were confused by and losing trust in Amorim’s rigid tactical approach, a point on which minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe also held strong opinions. Amorim, who had famously stated “not even the pope” would make him change his system, countered that the players needed to be changed instead.
This internal conflict spilled into public view after United’s 1-1 draw with Leeds United on Sunday. In a defiant post-match interview, Amorim asserted his authority, stating, “I came here to be the manager of Man United, NOT to be the coach,” and challenged other departments to do their jobs.
He framed his position as a “back-me-or-sack-me” ultimatum, which the board, led by Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada, answered within 24 hours.
The reaction from the playing squad has been mixed, revealing fragmented loyalties. Club captain Bruno Fernandes, who was spotted for coffee with Carlos Fernandes after the sacking, led a group of public well-wishers, posting “Thank you Mister!” on social media.
Key figures like Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, and summer signings including Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo also posted tributes. However, the silence from at least nine other first-team players, including Kobbie Mainoo and Lisandro Martínez, the latter having had a reported training-ground confrontation with Amorim, suggests the manager’s relationship with the squad was fractured.
With the immediate reins handed to academy coach Darren Fletcher, the club is now seeking an interim manager to steer the team until a permanent appointment in the summer. Former managers Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick are under consideration for the temporary role, potentially setting the stage for an emotional return to Old Trafford.